Aircraft gear collapse after striking taxiway barricade

Casualties unknown • Seattle, WA, US

A pilot flying a tailwheel aircraft experienced a left main gear collapse and wing strike after running over an unannounced barricade on a parallel taxiway.

What happened

After landing, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped aircraft turned onto a parallel taxiway. While performing "S" turns to maintain visibility during taxi, the aircraft ran over a 10-foot-long horizontal barricade positioned approximately perpendicular to the taxiway centerline. The pilot reported that the nose of the aircraft obstructed the view of the barricade during the maneuver.

Upon striking the obstruction, the aircraft's left main gear collapsed. This caused the left wing to drop and strike a second barricade. An on-site investigation revealed that the barricade extended to within two to three feet of the yellow taxiway centerline.

The investigation

The pilot stated that the presence and specific location of the barricade were not included in the airport's Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) prior to landing. A review of a re-recording of the ATIS confirmed that while the service announced the closure of several taxiways, it did not indicate that barricades were positioned on the parallel taxiway.

Probable cause

The failure to include information regarding the presence of barricades on the parallel taxiway in the ATIS broadcast.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-03-17 Piper J3C-65 accident near Seattle, WA?

A pilot flying a tailwheel aircraft experienced a left main gear collapse and wing strike after running over an unannounced barricade on a parallel taxiway.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-03-17 involved a Piper J3C-65, registration N30616, at Seattle, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure to include information regarding the presence of barricades on the parallel taxiway in the ATIS broadcast.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010416X00751. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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